Love And Other Drugs

"Alright girls, now look up!" The photographer yelled out to them and all five girls complied.


They were, yet again, standing in front of a camera, a crew and looking like they wanted to kill anyone who came across their path. After a month in the studio, The Hollywood Dolls were shooting the cover of their album. They were all standing on top of a roof in downtown LA, their leather jackets shining in the fading light as their hair whipped around their faces in the wind, both natural and fabricated.

Luxe was dressed like every metal heads dream-tight leather jacket, skinny jeans ripped at the knees and ending in a pair of black boots. Her shirt-AC/DC-was shredded just enough to show off her lacey red bra, which matched her perfect cherry red lips. Her long blonde hair was pin straight, her long bangs hanging over one eye as she stared down the camera angrily. If looks could kill, Luxe would be going away for life.

All of the girls looked amazing-Char with newly dyed grey hair, her heeled boots and leather jacket pulling it all together. Mads, with her all black hair, was beside Luxe and she had a tight grip on the collar of her frayed leather jacket. Pixie and Lulu-now with matching light blue hair-were flagging either side of the group and they were both having a hard time keeping the smiles off of their faces.

The Dolls were back and they were better than ever and ready to kick some ass.


"That's awesome ladies! Pixie, a little bit more of a scowl there darling." The photographer, a posh British man who owed Jimmy a favor, said as he continued to snap away.

"Yeah Pix...stop thinking about Jeremy." Char teased and Luxe only smiled quickly at the mention of Pixie's now steady boyfriend.

"I think that's enough of the group. We got some really awesome photos and I think we can take a break before we split you girls up." The photographer said and all of the girls smiled as they relaxed and uncrossed their arms and let the scowls fall from their faces.


It was weird to think about, but at that moment all of the girls had guys in their lives-even Char.

The guitarist had settled on a guitar tech for Pierce The Veil-a nice guy who treated her well and called her often. Mads was with someone from her sober group-a big change for her and a positive one as well. Lulu and her boyfriend of over a year, Scott, had just moved in together and of course Pixie was over the moon about the love of her life Jeremy.

Luxe was happy with Andy, but she couldn't shake a feeling that she kept having about their situation.

Andy was gone-up in Vancouver doing his vocal pieces for the guys record and while they talked every day, Luxe felt a distance beginning to grow between them. Luxe was ready to get married-even more than that she was ready to move in together. They had talked about it the night before Andy was to leave and it had blown up in to a very large and loud argument. Andy liked the way things were and besides-why move in together when they were always both on the road?

Luxe could see his point, but she wanted more...she wanted him.


"You doing okay over there Luxe?" Char asked as she tucked her hair behind her ears and looked her friend over. Luxe, who had always been pretty thin, was skinnier than ever and Char silently wondered if the singer wasn't indulging in past habits again.

"Huh? Oh-I'm fine. Just tired from the studio yesterday." Luxe said and it wasn't really a lie. The girls had been in the studio for three days straight working on their song Let Me Down and it still didn't feel right.

"You sure? I noticed you and Andy haven't been all lovey lately." Char said and that seemed to make all of the girls take notice. Mads, Pixie and Lulu were now starting to circle in closer and Luxe took a deep breath.

"We've both just been busy. Actually we're thinking of moving in together once the albums come out." Luxe fibbed, but the girls squealing and giggling showed her that they bought it.

"Oh that's so great! Jeremy and I were just looking online last night for places." Pixie gushed, her tiny features filled with joy. Luxe was happy for her bandmate-happy and yet very jealous.

"That's amazing! You'll love living together-Scott and I now only fight over the bathroom in the mornings...instead of all the time." Lulu laughed and Luxe just stared at her. Since when did Lulu and her boytoylive together?

"O-oh? I didn't know you guys lived together Lulu." Luxe said and then drifted in to the background of the conversation as the other girls gushed and giggled.


Luxe felt herself delving in to a depression that she hadn't felt in a very long time. She knew that Andy always got very involved in the writing process for their records, but this was different. Where was it going with Andy? Listening to Lulu and Pixie talk about their guys and how close they were to either moving in or getting married was making Luxe see that she Andy weren't really going anywhere.

Sure they had fun together, enjoyed one another in a lot of ways, but was that really enough to keep them together? Luxe hadn't wanted kids in the beginning, so that was something she and Andy had always agreed on, but now she was starting to see the upside of having some. They were fun, cute and it would give her a chance to make right some of the mistakes that her own parents had made in her life. The only problem was that Andy had no desire to have kids any time soon.

Luxe watched as the girls soon split apart, touching up their makeup to get ready for their single shots. Everything seemed to be going so well right now-the record was getting done, the girls were all staying sober or in control and they were all getting along. So why was Luxe feeling like the end was coming closer and closer? She knew that she was just being silly, but as she sat down in her makeup chair and caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror, she realized how tired she looked.


"Luxe..." Someone said from behind her and the singer turned, hiding her teary eyes as she faced Char. The guitarist looked concerned and after seeing her image staring back in the mirror, Luxe couldn't blame her. She looked terrible.

"Hey Char." She said dully-she didn't even have the energy to try and hide her despair any longer.

"Babe what's going on? I know you said you were fine, but I know you better than that." Char said as she took a seat beside her friend and reached out to grab the singer's hand. It was all bone and Char tried to swallow her fear.

"It's just..." She stopped herself, trying to keep her tears from falling down her cheeks and ruining not only her makeup, but any resolve she had left.

"It's what honey?" Char pushed and Luxe only shut her eyes, trying to keep herself calm.

"I don't know where Andy and I stand anymore." She said quickly and then opened her eyes. Char was sitting beside her, facing the singer with a confused look on her face.

"But...you just told us you guys were talking about moving in together." Char said and Luxe sighed. This is where her mouth always got her in trouble.

"I lied." She said stupidly and Luxe couldn't hold her tears back any longer.

"So...are you guys broken up?" Char asked and Luxe only shook her head. She didn't know anymore...she didn't want to feel anything right now.

"N-no." She said tearfully.

"Then what's the problem?" Char asked and Luxe only sniffled.

"I don't know...Andy just doesn't seem interested in moving on to the next step." Luxe said and soon enough she found herself being engulfed by Char's strong tattooed arms.

"Then maybe it's time you took your relationship in to your own hands." Char said in her ear and those words would ring in Luxe's ears for a very long time.


Maybe it was time she moved on...without Andy.

Notes

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